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Plastic sweater box enclosures..

cynth201 Jan 04, 2009 10:46 PM

Single enclosures; not on racks. How do you go about heating them. I've heard that if you attatch the heat tape directly to the plastic, it can melt it. True?

Replies (3)

markg Jan 05, 2009 04:16 PM

If the heater is hot enough to melt the plastic, then it is too hot for the snake. So, use a temperature controller. Even a lamp dimmer is better than nothing.

Here is one easy and effective way to setup a sweaterbox enclosure.

1. Get sweaterbox with smoothest bottom you can find and securest lid you can find.

2. Under the box bottom, put on some adhesive felt pads to lift the box up just a bit, anywhere from 1/16 inch to 3/16 inch is fine - just so it clears whatever heat pad or heat tape you are using.

3. Place the box on top of a piece of melamine.

4. Slide the heater under the box to taste. Meaning, for a heavy-bodied boid, use more heater, and for a skinny colubrid, use less.

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Mark

bakeaway Jan 06, 2009 11:44 AM

Mark,
What about using a UTH with a T-stat on the bottom of a sweater box? I might be having a new addition and may have to do that until I get another set up.
Thanks
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Ball Python
Jungle Carpet Python 1.0
Eastern King 0.1
Mexican Black King
Great Basin Gopher
Hypo Brooks 1.0
White Sided Bull 1.0 (Envy)
Striped Pacific Gopher (Envy)
Axanthic Brooksi 0.1 (Mark Kenderdine)
Goini King 1.0 (Mark Kenderdine)
Northern Pine 1.0 (Nick Puder)
Arizona Mtn. King 1.0 (AAM Snakes)

I love the smell of aspen shavings in the morning...lol

"To serve man..it's...it's a cookbook!"

markg Jan 06, 2009 12:13 PM

Sure. Personally I like to keep the box "floating" over the heat pad rather than taping the heat pad on, but as long as a controller is used, whatever you want to do will work.
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Mark

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